How Much Should A Weight Bench Cost? What You Should Know To Avoid Wasting Money!

The weight bench is the hub for intense weight lifting workouts. This makes it one of the most important purchases for any serious home gym. But with so many brands and models on the market, how do you choose the right one? And how much should you pay for it? This article explains how much a weight bench should cost.

The average cost for a weight bench varies depending on brand and features. A budget weight bench typically costs between $40-50, a mid-range weight bench costs between $70-150, and a premium weight bench can cost between $200-500+. These are prices for a brand new weight bench.

My 10 year training experience has made it easier for me to navigate the weight bench market.

But even with my experience, I too felt lost at times.

That’s why I decided to share my research and experience with you!

Let’s dive right in.

Best-Value Weight Bench Recommendations For Those In A Hurry

Example Weight Bench Costs.

With so many different weight bench brands and models on the market, it can be difficult to decide if the price you’re paying is acceptable.

The last thing you want is to overpay for a bench that doesn’t help you reach your training goals.

So here are some examples of weight bench prices in the US and UK at different budget levels.

Weight bench prices in the US.

A weight bench in the US can cost anywhere between $40 to over $500.

Generally speaking, the more expensive the bench, the better the construction and functionality (more on this later).

But first, here are some examples of US costs for different types of weight benches at various price points:

Weight Bench Type	Typical Price Range	Example	Max Weight Load	Brand New Cost	Used Cost
Budget flat bench	$40-50	Weider traditional flat bench	350lbs	$49	$30
Mid-range flat bench	$70-150	Rep Fitness FB3000	700lbs	$135	$80
Premium flat bench	$160-300	Rogue Fitness flat utility bench	1000lbs	$195	$150
Budget adjustable bench	$60-90	Linodi adjustable weight bench	660lbs	$89	$53
Mid-range adjustable bench	$100-170	Flybird adjustable bench	700lbs	$145	$90
Premium adjustable bench	$200-500+	Rogue Fitness adjustable bench 2.0	1000lbs	$545	$350

Best places to buy weight benches in the US.

Weight benches can be bought from many different retailers (online and in-store).

Here are the best places to buy weight benches in the US (with expected price ranges):

• Amazon. Stocks a variety of independent budget to mid-range brands (expect to pay $40-150)
• Walmart. Stocks a range of budget to premium weight bench brands including York, CAP, Marcy, and Weider (expect to pay $50-250).
• Target. Stocks a variety of budget to premium weight benches (expect to pay $60-500+).
• Best Buy. Stocks a range of mid-range to premium models from Bowflex and Pro Form (expect to pay $100-350).
• REP Fitness. Independent strength equipment retailer selling mid-range to premium benches (expect to pay $150-500).
• Rogue Fitness. Established strength training brand selling premium weight benches (expect to pay $200-1000).
• Ironmaster. Established strength training brand selling premium benches (expect to pay $350+).
• Eleiko. Famous Olympic powerlifting company selling premium weight benches (expect to pay $500+).
• eBay, Mercari, Facebook marketplace, and Craigslist. Great for buying second-hand weight benches at 30-40% lower cost.

Weight bench prices in the UK.

A weight bench in the UK can cost anywhere between £40 to over £500.

As with weight benches in the US, the cost of a bench in the UK also varies depending on build quality and functionality.

Here are some examples of UK costs for different types of weight benches at various price points:

Weight Bench Type	Typical Price Range	Example	Max Weight Load	Brand New Cost	Used Cost
Budget flat bench	£40-50	DTX Flat Bench	500lbs	£50	£30
Mid-range flat bench	£60-150	Mirafit M2 flat bench	800lbs	£110	£70
Premium flat bench	£170-350	Rogue Fitness boltogether utility bench	1000lbs	£230	£140
Budget adjustable bench	£60-90	JX Fitness adjustable bench	600lbs	£88	£50
Mid-range adjustable bench	£100-160	Flybird adjustable bench	700lbs	£120	£72
Premium adjustable bench	£180-500+	Mirafit M3 adjustable bench	1000lbs	£280	£170

Best places to buy weight benches in the UK.

Just like in the US, residents in the UK also have a variety of retailers to choose from.

Here are the best places to buy weight benches in the UK (with expected price ranges):

• Amazon. Stocks a variety of independent budget to mid-range brands (expect to pay £40-150)
• Argos. Stocks Marcy, Pro Fitness, and Opti budget to mid-range weight bench (expect to pay £50-150+)
• Decathlon. Stocks Domyos budget to mid-range weight bench (expect to pay £60-70).
• Mirafit. Independent home gym retailer selling budget to premium benches (expect to pay £60-300)
• Sports Direct. Stocks the Muscle Squad mid range adjustable weight bench (expect to pay £75).
• Rogue Fitness. UK import equivalent of Rogue USA.
• Eleiko. U import equivalent of Eleiko USA.
• Ironmaster. UK import equivalent of Ironmaster USA.
• eBay, Facebook marketplace, Gumtree. Great for buying second-hand weight benches at 30-40% lower cost.

Different Types Of Weight Bench Have Different Costs.

Now I’ll go into further detail about the different weight bench types and how much they should cost.

Flat benches are the cheapest.

A flat bench is the simplest workout bench you can buy.

It’s literally a no-frills, non-adjustable, flat surface supported by 2-4 legs.

This allows you to lay or sit on it as you lift your weights or rest in between sets.

How much does a flat bench cost?

On average, a flat bench costs between $40 to $300. Budget flat benches cost between $40 to $50, mid-range flat benches cost between $70 to $150, and premium flat benches cost between $160 to $300. A higher cost usually provides greater stability and weight capacity.

Don’t let its simple-looking nature fool you.

The flat bench is actually very versatile. And even the cheapest flat bench provides a stable platform to lift your weights.

If you’re interested, you can go to my other article to see 10 examples of how much a flat bench costs.

What can you do with a flat bench?

Here are some example exercises you can perform on a flat bench:

• Flat bench press. Works the pectorals and triceps.

• Narrow-arm bench press. Emphasises the triceps more than the flat bench press.

• Wide-arm bench press. Emphasises the mid-pectorals more than the flat bench press.

• Dumbbell pullover. Works the upper pectorals.

• Dumbbell chest fly. Works the mid-pectorals.

• Seated shoulder press. Increases deltoid activation more than the standing shoulder press.

• One-arm dumbbell row. Works the rhomboids, trapezius, and lats.

• Box squat. Works the legs.

• Split-squat. Also works the legs.

• Hip thrust. Works the hamstrings and glutes.

Best Flat Bench You Can Buy

Who is the flat bench best for?

• Budget flat benches are only good for absolute beginners. That said, they should generally be avoided because you can spend an extra $10-20 for an adjustable bench which provides more exercise options (more on this below).

• Mid-range flat benches are good for casual lifters. These benches will allow you to build a bigger chest on the cheap, through flat bench pressing, chest flyes, and dumbbell pull overs. But again, I’d recommend spending an extra few bucks on an adjustable weight bench if you can.

• Premium flat benches are ideal for powerlifters. These benches often have weight load capacities over 1000 lbs. This is essential for powerlifters who need to flat bench press heavy loads to develop maximum chest strength.

Adjustable benches are moderately priced.

An adjustable bench comes in two parts- a seat and a backrest.

The backrest can be adjusted to flat, incline, and decline angles (FID).

This is often done with a notch, latch, or pin mechanism.

Furthermore, most adjustable benches also offer varying degrees of FID angles.

This is usually 90°, 60°, 30°, 15°, 0°, -15°, and -30°.

Most adjustable benches also feature a footrest which doubles as a foot anchor for sit-ups.

How much does an adjustable bench cost?

On average, an adjustable bench costs between $60 to $500+. Budget adjustable benches cost between $60 to $90, mid-range adjustable benches cost between $100 to $170, and premium flat benches cost between $200 to over $500. A higher cost usually provides greater stability and comfort.

Many adjustable benches can also be folded.

A foldable weight bench allows you to conveniently collapse the unit for compact storage.

But not every adjustable weight bench is foldable, so make sure you check before you buy.

Generally speaking, most mid-range adjustable benches can be folded.

Some premium adjustable benches can also be folded, but these are rarer (these usually favor stability over the ability to be folded).

Flybird makes some great adjustable benches that are both effective and affordable. You can check out my other article to see how good the Flybird benches are compared to their competitors.

What can you do with an adjustable bench?

An adjustable bench can be used to perform all the exercises of a flat bench and more.

Here are some example exercises you can perform on an adjustable bench:

• Incline bench press. Works the upper pectorals and triceps.

• Decline bench press. Works the lower pectorals and triceps.

• Incline dumbbell fly. Isolates the upper pectorals.

• Decline dumbbell fly. Isolates the lower pectorals.

• Incline row. Works the upper back muscles including the trapezius, posterior deltoids, and rhomboids.

• Incline bicep curl. Doing the bicep curl at an incline angle puts the bicep at a deficit and makes the exercise harder to perform.

• Deficit sit-ups. Doing the sit-up at a decline angle makes the exercise harder to perform.

Flybird Adjustable Weight Bench Review - 1 Month Later | GamerBody

Who is the adjustable bench best for?

• Budget adjustable benches are great for beginners. These benches offer beginners a great balance between affordability and good exercise variety from the FID settings.

• Mid-range adjustable benches are ideal for casual body builders. These benches are affordable, can often be folded for convenient home gym storage, and have enough weight capacity for most casual bodybuilders. Mid-range adjustable benches are sturdy and make a great addition to most home gyms.

• Premium adjustable benches are ideal for advanced bodybuilders. These benches are very sturdy and have a high weight capacity. Combined with the FID functionality, these benches are ideal for advanced bodybuilders who need to lift heavy weights at different angles to target different areas of the chest.

Check out my other article to find out if you need a weight bench for your home gym!

Olympic benches are the most expensive.

The Olympic bench is a weight bench set with a barbell rack.

It’s made from heavy-duty steel and built to a competition standard.

It’s also often wider and longer than a regular bench, and also has firmer padding.

As such, the Olympic bench is much sturdier than a normal bench and handles a very large weight capacity (well over 1000 lbs).

How much does an olympic bench cost?

On average, an Olympic bench costs between $350 to $1500. Budget Olympic benches cost between $350 to $500, mid-range Olympic benches cost between $600 to $800, and premium Olympic benches cost between $900 to $1500. A higher cost usually provides greater comfort and weight plate storage.

I decided to keep this section as brief as possible since most people will never require an Olympic bench.

And if you do, then you probably would know how much they cost anyway!

What can you do with an Olympic bench?

The Olympic bench is used for one thing and one thing only- bench pressing extremely heavy weights.

To buy an Olympic bench to do chest flyes, dumbbell pullovers, etc, would be downright silly.

Not to mention the racks would get in the way.

Who is the Olympic bench best for?

The Olympic bench is mainly for powerlifters and elite bodybuilders who regularly bench press heavy poundages.

If you regularly bench press over 500lbs, then you should consider getting one of these benches.

They are extremely sturdy and will handle any weight a human can bench press.

For the rest of us mere weaklings, a good adjustable or flat bench will be perfectly adequate!

Read my other article to find if you need a weight bench for your dumbbells!

Why Is A Weight Bench So Expensive?

Now you know how much a weight bench should cost.

But Why are weight benches so expensive?

Weight benches are expensive due to their materials, design, and manufacturing, and shipping. These factors contribute to the final price of a weight bench. Expensive weight benches are made from more durable materials, are more comfortable, and often have more features compared to budget benches.

Materials contribute to cost.

Here are the materials used to construct a weight bench and how they affect the price:

• Steel frames can be high or low gauge. Most benches are made from heavy-duty steel tubing. Expensive benches are made from low-gauge steel (typically <11-gauge), whilst cheaper benches are made from high-gauge steel (typically >12-gauge).

• Padding can be high or low-density foam. The seat and backrest is always padded for comfort. Expensive benches feature high-density foam padding which can handle greater compression, whilst cheap benches feature low-density foam padding which is prone to warping.

• Foot grips can be rubber or plastic. Synthetic sleeves are often applied to the feet of the bench. Expensive benches use a rubber foot sleeve which has more grip and protects your floor, whilst cheap benches use a plastic foot sleeve (some don’t have a sleeve at all).

• Frame coat can be painted or powder coated. The steel frame is protected by an outer coat. Expensive benches are powder coated which is extremely resilient, whilst cheaper benches are simply painted and prone to scratching.

Design and manufacturing contribute to cost.

Here are the design and manufacturing features of a weight bench and how they affect the price:

• Weight capacity can be high or low. Every bench has a recommended maximum weight capacity (how much weight it can safely support). Expensive benches are sturdy and support over 800 lbs, whilst cheaper benches are less sturdy and often support less than 500 lbs.
• FID degrees vary. Adjustable benches have different degrees of FID (flat/incline/decline) setting. Expensive adjustable benches feature more FID settings, whilst cheaper adjustable benches may only have a single incline and decline setting.
• FID mechanisms vary. The FID adjustment is achieved through different mechanisms. Expensive adjustable benches feature a solid latch/notch mechanism, whilst cheaper benches use a spring-loaded pin (more fragile).
• Expensive benches have foot wheels. Allow for convenient transportation. Mostly found on premium benches.
• Footrest can be present or absent. A foot rest can increase stability during lifts and allow you to anchor your foot during exercises like sit-ups.

Shipping contributes to cost.

Weight benches are often light, but they are also often bulky.

This contributes to the retail price, as it costs a lot of money for the manufacturer to ship the bench to the retailer.

Some reputable retailers will offer free shipping (essentially covering the shipping costs in the final price), but not all of them do.

So do your own research to find a good deal!

You’ll need to use free weights to get the most out of your bench. Check out my other article to find out how much dumbbells cost!

Is The Cost Of A Weight Bench Worth It?

Now let’s address the elephant in the room:

Does the price of a weight bench justify its purpose?

Is a weight bench worth it?

In general, a weight bench is worth the cost. A good weight bench can be purchased for around $150 and safely increases the variety of weight training exercises available to do at home. Most weight benches are also durable and will last for more than 5 years of heavy use.

However, the caveat to this is that a weight bench is not essential for all training goals.

If your training doesn’t involve chest exercises, then there’s no justifiable reason to spend money on a bench.

But if you regularly perform chest exercises, like the bench press and chest fly, then a weight bench will be one of the best investments you can make.

Beginners often experiment with makeshift DIY benches (check out my article here for 15 great ideas) before buying a proper bench.

But remember that even the cheapest of weight benches are still often safer and more comfortable than the best DIY makeshift bench.

So if you find yourself regularly using a homemade bench, it’s well worth considering a mid-range adjustable bench instead!

Are adjustable benches worth it?

In general, an adjustable weight bench is worth the cost. An adjustable bench can be purchased for as little as $20 more than a flat bench, but it will also allow for incline and decline chest exercises to be performed. These exercises are essential for building a well-balanced chest.

But as I mentioned before, if you don’t do FID chest exercises, then an adjustable bench might not be worth the money.

For example- a casual lifter who’s training for general fitness will probably find an adjustable bench to be nothing more than a high-tech chair!

An adjustable bench makes a great pairing with an adjustable dumbbell to create a cost-effective home gym. Read my other article for a guide to buying adjustable dumbbells!

Are Olympic benches worth it?

For the average person, an Olympic bench is not worth the money. These benches are designed to be used for bench pressing heavy weights of more than 500 lbs. Since most people do not bench press this level of weight, an Olympic bench is usually unnecessary.

Olympic benches are also very bulky.

You’ll need around 20-24 square feet of space to fit an Olympic bench in your home gym.

Not many people have that amount of space!

Choosing The Right Bench For Your Needs.

The ideal bench will depend on your fitness goals, current training level, budget, and space available.

So what is a good weight bench to buy in general?

For the average person, an adjustable bench is the best weight bench to buy. These benches offer the best balance in affordable cost, weight capacity, and incline and decline functionality. This makes the adjustable bench suitable for beginner and advanced weight lifters alike.

Current training Level	Recommended Weight Bench
General fitness	Mid-range flat bench or budget adjustable bench.
Beginner/casual bodybuilder	Budget adjustable bench.
Intermediate bodybuilder	Mid-range adjustable bench.
Advanced bodybuilder	Premium adjustable bench.
Powerlifter	Mid-range or premium flat bench.

In short- the adjustable bench is the jack of all trades. They’re suitable for most people to build muscle, tone, and develop strength.

Whatever price point you decide to go with though, just make sure the bench can support your body weight plus the weight of your free weights.

Adding further redundant weight on top of this will also ensure you have room for future progression.

If you’re looking to improve your physique at home, I recommend you to check out my guide to building your first 10 lbs of muscle!

My Weight Bench Recommendations

Here are the weight benches I’d recommend. I’ve personally tested both of them. Although they may not be the most premium benches on the market, they provide great value for money. Both benches are affordable, offer great value for money, and provide all the weight bench functions you would need for home training:

• Flybird FB149 adjustable bench (click here for the cheapest price): This bench is the one I’m currently using. I’d recommend it for anyone between 5’6″ to 6’0″. The 7x FID angles and 700lb weight capacity make it great for beginners/intermediates to lift heavy dumbbells and moderately heavy barbells at home. You can find my hands-on review here.

• Fitness Reality Supermax 2000 (click here for cheapest price): This bench is slightly more expensive compared to the Flybird. But the dimensions are more suitable for anyone outside the 5’6″ to 6’0″ height range. It’s 850lb capacity is more than enough for casual lifters looking to build muscle at home.

Both benches are under $200, fully adjustable, and can be folded for easy storage after your workout. Both of them can be inclined and declined as well as going flat. They both provide great value for money!

Conclusion

I’ve explained how much a weight bench should cost.

On a wide level, weight benches can cost anywhere between $50 to 500+, and you generally get what you pay for.

The more important question to ask is how much you should be spending on your current training level and goals.

For the average beginner and intermediate, you should expect to pay between $100-200 for a decent mid-range adjustable bench.

For advanced lifters, you should be paying around $250+ for a sturdier bench which allows you to lift more weight.

Elite lifters will usually spend $400+ for a bench.

What type of bench will YOU be buying?

Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions! You can find my details on the “contact us” page.

You may also be interested in the downloadable Kalibre Blueprint PDF which details exactly how I gained 40lbs of lean muscle (it’s 100% free!). It details the exact exercises and nutrition (with printable worksheets) I used to go from skinny to ripped!

Thanks for reading guys!

Peace Out,

Kal

(Biochemistry BSc, Biomedical Sciences MSc, Ex-Skinny Guy)